7
Fiber Optic Cleaning Guidelines
Fiber Optic transmitters and receivers are extremely susceptible to contamination by
particles of dirt or dust, which can obstruct the optic path and cause performance
degradation. Good system performance requires clean optics and connector ferrules.
1.
Use fiber patch cords (or connectors, if you terminate your own fiber) only from
a reputable supplier; low-quality components can cause many hard-to-diagnose
problems in an installation.
2.
Dust caps are installed at IMC Networks to ensure factory-clean optical devices.
These protective caps should not be removed until the moment of connecting
the fiber cable to the device. Should it be necessary to disconnect the fiber
device, reinstall the protective dust caps.
3.
Store spare caps in a dust-free environment such as a sealed plastic bag or box
so that when reinstalled they do not introduce any contamination to the optics.
4.
If you suspect that the optics have been contaminated, alternate between
blasting with clean, dry, compressed air and flushing with methanol to remove
particles of dirt.
Electrostatic Discharge Precautions
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can cause damage to any product, add-in modules or
stand alone units, containing electronic components. Always observe the following
precautions when installing or handling these kinds of products
1.
Do not remove unit from its protective packaging until ready to install.
2.
Wear an ESD wrist grounding strap before handling any module or component.
If the wrist strap is not available, maintain grounded contact with the system unit
throughout any procedure requiring ESD protection.
3.
Hold the units by the edges; do not touch the electronic components or gold
connectors.
4.
After removal, always place the boards on a grounded, static-free surface, ESD
pad or in a proper ESD bag. Do not slide the modules or stand alone units over
any surface.
WARNING!
Integrated circuits and fiber optic components are
extremely susceptible to electrostatic discharge damage. Do not
handle these components directly unless you are a qualified service
technician and use tools and techniques that conform to accepted
industry practices.
